Weeks after he was given a clean bill of health, NADA suspended Bajrang Punia again | Other sports news

The NADA suspended him for the first time on April 23 because he refused to provide a urine sample for a doping test at the Olympic selection trials, which took place on March 10 in Sonepat.

Bajrang Punia is involved in a lengthy dispute with NADA. (Photo: Getty Images)

New Delhi: The National Anti-Doping Agency suspended top wrestler Bajrang Punia for the second time on Sunday, just weeks after the Anti-Disciplinary Doping Committee gave him a clean bill of health.

The NADA suspended him for the first time on April 23 because he refused to provide a urine sample for a doping test at the Olympic selection trials, which took place on March 10 in Sonepat.

This led to the bronze medalist of the Tokyo Games being suspended by the world wrestling association United Wrestling World (UWW).

Punia had appealed against the provisional suspension, whereupon the NADA anti-disciplinary committee lifted the suspension on May 31 and served him with the “notice of indictment”.

On Sunday, NADA delivered the message to Punia and suspended him again provisionally.

“This serves as formal notification that you are accused of violating Article 2.3 of the 2021 National Anti-Doping Rules and are now provisionally suspended,” NADA told the wrestler.

Punia has until July 11 to either request a hearing or accept the charges against him. He has stressed all along that he never refused to provide his urine sample but demanded an answer from NADA to his question about why expired kits were sent to collect his samples in December 2023.

Punia’s lawyer Vidhushpat Singhania said his client would challenge the suspension. “Yes, we will have to file a reply,” Singhania said. PTI.

NADA said that if Punia’s violation is upheld, it will seek “disqualification of the results in the event in which the ADRV occurred, as well as the commission of the ADRV with all resulting consequences, including the loss of all medals, points and prizes.”

“The supervisor/DCO has duly addressed you and informed you that you must provide a urine sample for doping analysis.

“Even after several requests from the DCO, you refused to provide your urine sample on the grounds that you would not provide the sample unless NADA responds to your email regarding the expired kits used by the concerned DCO when he had come to collect the athlete’s sample for the doping test about two months ago.

“Following your refusal to submit to a sample collection, the NADA DCO also explained to you in detail the consequences and results in accordance with NADR 2021.

“Despite the DCO’s best efforts, you refused to submit to sample collection.”

NADA could also choose to recover the financial costs associated with the tests or impose a fine on Punia if he loses his appeal.